No. 10 Nebraska breezes by Chattanooga

Sep 4, 2011 - 1:18 AM
Lincoln, NE (Sports Network) - Taylor Martinez threw for 116 yards, but it was
his 135 yards and three touchdowns on the ground that led No. 10 Nebraska to a
40-7 victory over Chattanooga in its first game as a member of the Big Ten
Conference.

Martinez connected on 11-of-22 pass attempts and was removed from the game in
the middle of the fourth quarter when the outcome was no longer in doubt.

Rex Burkhead carried the ball 11 times for 75 yards and a score, and Brett
Maher connected on all four of his field goal attempts for the Cornhuskers
(1-0), who extended the nation's longest season-opening win streak to 26
games.

Still, Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini believed there were many things his team
could improve on.

"I thought the operation of the offense was fine as far as getting up on the
ball," he said. "I thought we got the ball snapped quick. Those things, the
logistics of it, were fine. The execution of it wasn't very good. Too many
busts, a couple communication errors out there on the field--just a lot of
things we need to get better at."

B.J. Coleman went 19-of-33 through the air for the Mocs (0-1), compiling 174
yards with a touchdown and an interception.

"We hurt ourselves. We jumped offsides and didn't snap the ball a couple of
times," UTC coach Russ Huesman said. "For the most part, we protected pretty
well. We have a young offensive line and they picked up pressure a lot. I
thought they battled. We didn't look awful."

Martinez's seven-yard TD run early in the first quarter gave the Cornhuskers
the lead. The four-play drive was highlighted by a 53-yard rush by Burkhead.

Maher nailed a 50-yard field goal late in the first and made a 48-yarder
almost five minutes into the second to extend Nebraska's lead.

On a 4th-and-2 play later in the second, Martinez took the snap and bolted
down the left side of the field for a 43-yard score.

Nebraska's defense then forced a three-and-out by the Mocs, and Maher's 34-
yard kick in the closing seconds of the half made it a 23-0 game.

Chattanooga got on the board on third, using an eight-play opening drive that
resulted in Anthony's TD reception.

But the Cornhuskers dominated the second half and put the game away with a 17-
point third quarter, including a 21-yard Maher field goal, a three-yard
rushing score by Burkhead after a Cameron Meredith interception at the five
and a 47-yard TD run by Martinez.

Game Notes

It was the first ever meeting between the two schools...Nebraska is coming off
consecutive 10-win seasons...Nebraska outgained Chattanooga on the ground 229
to 60 but the Mocs outgained the Cornhuskers through the air 170 to 135.